Trying to end on a high note

Roscoe running back Collin Smith (6) looks for an opening after taking a handoff from quarterback Caden Smith in last week’s game at Ralls. The Plowboys can reach the playoffs for the 13th straight year by defeating Rotan at home this Friday. It would also be the first playoff appearance since Jonathan Haseloff was named the team’s head coach.

Three Nolan County football teams come into Friday’s season finales with hopes of ending on a positive note. But for one of them, a win assures another game next week and a whole new outlook with the start of postseason play.
Thanks to a 33-12 win over Ralls, Roscoe is on the verge of claiming a 13th straight playoff berth as the No. 3 team from District 7-A, Division II. The win improved the Plowboys to 2-2 in district.
Roscoe (3-6 overall) is currently tied with Roby for third place in district but will secure a playoff spot if it defeats Rotan (0-4, 1-8) at home Friday, even if Roby also wins, due to Roscoe’s 22-8 head-to-head win last month. Roby hosts Hamlin (4-0), which has already clinched the No. 1 seed. Crosbyton (3-1) will represent the district as the No. 2 team in the playoffs.
Despite its sub-.500 record, Roscoe appears to be jelling of late. The 33 points scored against Ralls represented the team’s highest one-game total of the year. In addition, Roscoe has scored 84 points in its last three games while the defense has also shown improvement under first-year head coach Jonathan Haseloff.
There will be no playoffs for the local six-man teams. Highland and Blackwell were eliminated last week and are 0-2 in district. But both appear to have a good chance of winning their games on Friday.
Highland (2-6 overall) will travel to Hermleigh, which is 0-2 in district and 3-6 overall. Ira and Aspermont, both 2-0, have clinched playoff spots. Blackwell goes to Panther Creek (0-2, 2-7 overall) for its finale.